“It’s me,” I said. My voice was cold. Empty. “I want out. I've got one month. Erase everything. I want to disappear.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
---
After Hakeem left me there on that goddamn site, I carried Aziel on my back through the storm. No car. No guards. Just the rain beating down on us like the world wanted us dead.
His body was burning with fever. Mine wasn’t any better. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I held him up all night, stumbling barefoot through mud and gravel, until we reached the estate.
I collapsed right at the front gate.
Next thing I knew, I was in a hospital bed, shivering, hooked up to an IV. They said I’d been unconscious for three days. Fever was too high and my body nearly gave out.
Aziel was in the next room. Weak, scared, but alive.
Hakeem didn’t visit us. Not once. He was too busy playing house with Margaret.
On the fourth day, they discharged both of us.
When we got home… I saw Margaret. Curled up in Hakeem’s lap like a damn queen. She didn’t even look surprised to see me.
Hakeem didn’t even look up from stroking her hair. “Margaret doesn’t like storms. She’ll be staying in the master bedroom for now. You’ll move to the guest room.”